To ask for your confidence and motivation in a corporate world tips please?

[BippityBobbityBoo]

I’ve worked in pretty much the same corpora job for 20 years since a teen. I’ve had some natural progression (team leader) but have kept my head down and suffered from imposter syndrome. I’m very working class, no qualifications, teen single mum etc.
I’ve just taken on a new role alongside my job along the lines of ‘environmental champion’ and I’m now mixing with younger go getters and graduates and feel completely out of my depth! I feel like such a dinosaur! Their corporate blah blah, acronyms, goals, strategies etc just leave me scratching my head.
I do feel a bit like my job is under scrutiny which is why I took this on but I know I need to try harder and give more.

Any tips, videos, book recommendations please?
Thanks 😊

I've just bought this - I haven't read it yet but on flicking through it talks about competence vs confidence, self-promotion and inner critics

Playing Big: A practical guide for brilliant women like you https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0099591529/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabcCY1P0R19CF17VTDN2FSE??encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I bet corporate blah blah, acronyms etc are their coping mechanisms to disguise the fact they don’t know always what they’re talking about. 20 years’ experience proves you’re not an imposter.

I read The confidence code by katty kay recently. I liked it and The one thing that really stuck was the suggestion to be your “home self”. I am currently trying to implement that.

As pp said that whole lingo of the yung uns is their way to fit into a place where they may feel insecure.

Just speak like a normal person. Honestly, it'll sound so refreshing and other people will notice it. Be confident that what you have to say is as valid as anyone else's but just express it more clearly by not hiding behind corporate gibberish.

It’s a while since I’ve read it but years ago a mentor gave me a copy of “nice girls don’t get the corner office” which was very helpful. Nothing earth shattering but lots of tips to boost confidence and they way you are perceived.

The times in my job when I’ve gone outside my comfort zone and felt at sea and like I didn’t know anything - those have been the biggest learning opportunities and growth areas. You are doing exactly the right thing - putting yourself out there, stretching and this isn’t just about environmental things. You will learn so many other skills and you will be noticed. Just reading your OP I like you - just be that person and you will be grand.

I'm not a favour of corporate bullshit although there does seem to be a tendency for people to think it makes them sound important.

My tips would be

• prepare for meetings
• if you don't know what you are talking about don't try to bluff. Say something like "That's an interesting point" or "that's definitely an area to explore further"
• if you don't have a clue what someone's question meant, ask them to clarify it in an email and you'll get back to them
• don't be afraid to say "I not familiar with ABDX is - can you explain?" and if it turns out to be something you do know you can say "Oh you mean xyz (something expressed in simpler language).
• If it's not clear ask what the purpose of the meeting is and what the expected outputs are. It's amazing how often it turns out that no one knows, and it will get you a reputation as the one who focuses the meeting.

I’m the same as you op - 20 years in my field and still don’t speak the ‘language’, feel like a complete amateur.

I have made some changes lately however as I am too old to get away with acting like the junior any more - I have started being more direct in my communications, I was far too much of an apologist and overly friendly before (avoid exclamation marks).

During zoom calls I was always the one trying to fill the awkward silences with chit chat and laughing awkwardly, talking nonsense which made me sound like an idiot. So I’m now following the rule that you can stay silent and people can think you’re an idiot, or you can open your mouth and prove you are one. So I smile, nod and make sure when I do speak what I’m saying is valuable and to the point.

Im not sure how long I’ll stick it as part of me thinks I’ve been trying to be someone I’m not for the last 20 years and this new version isn’t much better so it’s time to move on but I’m not quite sure what else I will do.

If you ask them, 'What does that actually mean?" it usually takes the wind out of their sails.

Good for you for taking it on. Let them all talk bollocks, it means v little other than they are good at bullshit bingo. Environment Champion, loads of companies have corporate strategies on this. Mostly green wash but look up IEMA as a good way of introduction. Lots of env charities are happy willing to partners initiatives. Even just the cycle to work scheme is a good starter.

I think a lot of the main points have already been said. My main one, particularly in the situation you're in now, is to remember that you have 20 years of industry experience! You have a lot to bring to the table even if you didn't know as much about this particular task/thing. I'd also echo a PP about how stepping out of your comfort zone is the best way to grow. Just like asking questions when you don't understand is the best way to learn. If you're in a meeting with lots of people and you have a question - it's very common that someone else (often multiple people) had the same question and just didn't dare ask.

I can recommend this video on Psychological safety:

It touches on the idea that the highest performing teams tend to be the ones that are open to making mistakes and asking questions. The theory does also extend to individuals.

What you're describing does also sound 100% like imposter syndrome, so looking for some management solutions for that may also be useful.

And lastly... here's some completely light-hearted comedy about how to look smart in meetings.
medium.com/conquering-corporate-america/10-more-tricks-to-appear-smart-in-meetings-f262c7735847
thecooperreview.com/10-tricks-appear-smart-meetings/

@Coriandersucks

I’m the same as you op - 20 years in my field and still don’t speak the ‘language’, feel like a complete amateur.

I have made some changes lately however as I am too old to get away with acting like the junior any more - I have started being more direct in my communications, I was far too much of an apologist and overly friendly before (avoid exclamation marks).

During zoom calls I was always the one trying to fill the awkward silences with chit chat and laughing awkwardly, talking nonsense which made me sound like an idiot. So I’m now following the rule that you can stay silent and people can think you’re an idiot, or you can open your mouth and prove you are one. So I smile, nod and make sure when I do speak what I’m saying is valuable and to the point.

Im not sure how long I’ll stick it as part of me thinks I’ve been trying to be someone I’m not for the last 20 years and this new version isn’t much better so it’s time to move on but I’m not quite sure what else I will do.

This is a really interesting perspective. I have had crippling low confidence at work and talking in meetings would fill me with fear so I would stay silent. I would always be envious of those who could have casual chit chat and talk in meetings. In my head I would think 'just say something, anything, to show you're not afraid to talk'. So my thinking was the opposite of yours.

OP it may be worth looking at some reports. For example, if you are now becoming an environmental champion, you could read:

• your company policies on the subject
• any local reports on environmental ambitions from local authorities or LEPs (local enterprise partnership areas)
• maybe even some case studies on what other companies are doing, best practice etc

It may give you a bit of a confidence boost.

Perhaps start a word document with a list of the acronyms and meanings, so you can have it to hand during meetings.

One thing I learned when I went through a major confidence struggle (I eventually had CBT for it) was that you can't know what people are thinking. So for example you may think 'they think I am a fossil' but what they really may be thinking is 'I want to impress her' or 'I want to sound better than my peers' or even 'I'm really passionate about this and I want to share everything I know!'.